KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope met with the media Tuesday as the Vols prepare to host Auburn at Neyland Stadium. Pope opened up about the emotions he and his receivers felt after the three-point loss to Texas, the teachable moments from the final drive, and how the group can help quarterback Faizon Brandon bounce back. He also discussed the growth of Radarius Jackson and what freshman TK Keys needs to do to earn a bigger role, noting that Keys is going to play more. Here is everything Pope said.
On adjustments the receivers can make to help Faizon when the pass rush gets home quickly
“I think you obviously try to make adjustments, play call, depths and things like that. As a wide out, you just got to understand that I’m not only trying to defeat the DBs, but you got to defeat the D-line too. So we always try to preach, man, there’s an internal clock that we got to have. We can’t be wasting a lot of time, and in this league, every single game is going to be that type of urgency. So that’s typically the type of stuff you got to get to.”
On the teachable moments from the final drive against Texas
“I think for one, man, you gotta be present in the moment. You got guys running back, understand the situation and be aware it’s the last play of the game. Give yourself a shot, sprint back, but do everything you can to get back and to give yourself a chance. And not only them, we talked as a coaching staff, there’s a lot we could correct and do a better job of being able to put them in position.
“The issues with things like that is when you don’t have timeouts, a lot of that is on the fly. And so our emphasis is in practice, we gotta continue to put them in unique situations like that, because a lot of it is on the fly, and so they’re having to problem solve and use their brain on the fly to be able to make the best decision. But a lot of times if you just strain and get back to the line of scrimmage, make sure you’re on sides, you pay attention to the little things, you at least give yourself a shot. So we got a lot we can clean up player side and coaching side that we talked through.”
On the receivers’ ability to win against secondaries through four games
“Man, that’s a great point. It’s kind of like hitting close to home because I talked to receivers about this when they got back up Sunday. Man, they were hurt. A lot of time as coaches you try to act like Superman and you try to eliminate vulnerabilities. But, man, I told them I went through a bunch of emotions after that game. Probably more than I’ve ever had in my career. Not just because the magnitude of the game, but I think you pair that with, you see these guys fight, strain. You see them grow up, you see them mature, and you just want it so bad for them.
“And so I think getting those guys to understand that you don’t have an opportunity to overcome games like that a lot, and when you do get a chance, we got to really take advantage of it. And so just having those guys practice with that same type of urgency, that same feeling, and using that to really motivate them and fuel them in my everyday habits, right? Routes on air. Right. When we’re going one-on-ones, I can’t forget about that thought. It’s got to be a lasting impression on you, and I think it changes your behavior. And so I say all that to say I think after that game I think you saw a different type of urgency from the guys to get open, to focus on detail and technique, and to really use that feeling to transform them into being the players they want to be.”
On how the receivers can help Faizon bounce back after an unfamiliar loss
“They can give him their own personal experiences. A lot of these guys come to this level and never lost a game before. A lot of them come at this level, and they’ve always been the best player on the team. And so I think our guys can do a good job of just, ‘Yo, I was the same way in high school. I got here, and it was different.’ And I think that’ll continue to build our relationships. But Faizon’s done a good job. He’s a warrior. He’s a hard worker. He’s really tough mentally. Him and the rest of the offense, those guys had a great look in their eye today. We had a great practice today. And I think they’re trending to go bounce back the way that we know we can and we will.”
On the three-receiver sets against Texas and Radarius Jackson’s development
“Radarius has grown a lot. Man, I can say that about a lot of them. Outside of the result that you don’t like, when you pull up the tape, I talked about kind of emotions that I went through after losing a game like that, but what was gratifying was we had guys open all over the field. They did a good job of working technique. They did a good job of competing and dominating not only in pass game but in run game.
“I was at least pleased. Again, we had a ton to clean up, but I was at least pleased with the way that they competed. And after you turn on the tape and you show the guys that, I think they see it, and it’s able to give them some confidence, guys like Radarius. So as long as they keep competing and keep doing their job at a high level and paying attention to detail, they’ll continue to get rewarded with playing time and things like that. So I’ve been proud of him and a couple of them other guys that are still growing I’m proud of also. But it’s a collective, and when you got a couple guys that do it the right way, it’s easy for younger guys to follow suit.”
On what TK Keys needs to do to become a bigger part of the offense
“TK is obviously talented. For him, it’s just understanding what type of urgency that you gotta play with. At this level, it’s a one score game 90% of the game this past week. And for a freshman, it’s hard for them to understand at any moment that game could flip and change good or bad. And so my urgency and my focus, it has to be on point. A lot of times when you don’t start and you come in the game, everybody else’s intensity is already high. And so when I come in, there’s really no time to get myself going or get in a rhythm.
“So you gotta kinda come in almost a fighter pilot. Once you get in that plane, it’s time to go. Anything can happen. I’m either shooting at people or I’m getting shot. And so for him it’s just a continuous sense of urgency every single snap. Those are things we focus on in practice. He’s doing a good job of giving himself a chance. But TK’s gonna play more. We talked about it. He knows that. And I think he’s gonna be ready when that time and that opportunity comes.”
